Mariners’ Taijuan Walker feels better after injury

When you’re one of the Major League’s top prospects expected to make his debut this season, any kind of injury or setback is going to be frustrating.

For Taijuan Walker, expected to be a key cog of a brand new Mariners machine, the frustration is tenfold. After being diagnosed with bursitis in his throwing shoulder, he began throwing at 60 feet today, far from where he wanted to be at this point in Spring Training. According to MLB.com’s Greg Johns says that it’s entirely possible that Walker just overthrew while preparing for his first full season on the 25-man roster for the Mariners. The 21-year old is trying to take it slow and steady, but finds it excruciatingly tough and boring.

"It sucks being out for a period of time. It felt like seven days was months. I was getting bored at the end. I was looking forward to this day all week. I couldn’t imagine being out longer, especially watching everyone go out there and compete and have fun. You’re just sitting there. It’s mentally tough because you want to be out there and push through it, but at the same time you need to have to take it slow."

With plans for Hisashi Iwakuma to also be out for the beginning of the season, Seattle has ‘King’ Felix Hernandez, and behind that, not a lot of very attractive options. Erasmo Ramirez, James Paxton, Scott Baker, and Brandon Maurer all figure to compete for rotation spots.